Looking in the Rear View Mirror
Retirement is about continuing the work you love, but at a pace that leaves you time for other things.
By Robert Ruder

<P><H1>Looking in the Rear View Mirror</H1>
<P>By Robert Ruder
<P>Its been almost four years since I loaded my trusty old Saab with boxes containing assorted remnants of my 25 year tenure as a middle level principal, gave my keys to the director of security, and vacated the parking spot reserved for the schools administrator. As I drove out of the parking lot, I took one long last look through the rear view mirror at the building where I had spend countless hours, addressed a multitude of issues, and worked diligently to provide a safe learning environment for the students under my charge.
<P>Deciding to retire was not an easy decision, but it was the right one. To me, being a principal was an extremely satisfying job. The energy of the students and staff members was contagious. The opportunity to work with colleagues to design and implement new programs was exciting, although I know that there were failures and disappointments as well. Because I had been part of the small percentage of U.S. workers who love their jobs, retirement at any point would have been difficult. But as most of us do at some point in our personal and professional lives, I put my priorities in order and made the decision to retire. 
<P>When coworkers and friends asked what my retirement plans were, I maintained my sequential approach to problem solving and offered my four-step response:
<OL><LI>Sleep past 5:15 a.m.</LI>
<LI>Drink a cup of coffee while it was hot</LI>
<LI>Read the morning paper <I>in the morning</I></LI>
<LI>Decide what to do for the rest of the day. </LI></OL >
<P>Being a relatively young and healthy retiree, I charted a course that could keep me productive and content. It included spending time with my wife, our children, and our grandchildren; volunteering at the community soup kitchen; helping out at summer camp for handicapped children; maintaining the yard and perennial beds; and painting the house. In addition, I had a standing weekly coffee session with a colleague whose office had been next to mine for 12 years. My life was full and I was content.
<P>I chose to retain my membership in the National Middle School Association and the Pennsylvania Middle School Association, for which I continued to serve as a regional board member. I also maintained my membership in NASSP and its Pennsylvania affiliate. I wanted to stay current with the educational trends and practices of a profession that had been part of my life for 38 years. The more I read the professional literature, the more convinced I was that in retirement, I could continue to contribute to the educational process in a manner that was compatible with my new lifestyle. 
<P><B>Staying Involved</B>
<P>Not all retired administrators or teachers are interested in wading back into the swiftly moving waters of education, but for those who are interested in keeping their toes wet, there are unlimited possibilities to give back to the profession. 
<P>Entering the world of retirement does not mean that educators are required to shelve their rich repertoire of experiences. Volunteering offers retirees the opportunity to continue to grow in their field of interest, give back to the community, and remain connected to their profession without the stressors often associated with a salaried position. Retired school administrators, who wore a variety of hats during their professional careers, are familiar with the operations of organizations including staff and program development, budget, personnel, building and ground maintenance, and human resources. 
<P>Many of those skills and the wisdom gleaned from thousands of interactions with diverse populations also make retired educators a valuable asset to many community-based organizations, so where to volunteer is often the most important decision. Retirees should select opportunities that tap into their prior experience,allow them to be contributing members of the organization, and correspond with howthey want to spend their knowledge, energy, and time.
<P>I offer the following suggestions to those soon-to-be or current retirees who are interested in volunteering: 
<UL><LI>Retain membership as a retiree in professional organizations. At a reduced fee, members receive current literature and other pertinent information. </LI>
<LI>Participate in regional and state conferences and workshops. Consider serving as a presenter to share your expertise and experiences. </LI>
<LI>Volunteer to serve on the boards of regional or state professional organizations. </LI>
<LI>Write for professional journals that are of interest to you. </LI>
<LI>Participate in educational forums or symposiums hosted by community organizations. </LI>
<LI>Become a member of a community speakers bureau to share your thoughts, philosophy, and experiences related to education with diverse populations. </LI>
<LI>Serve on committees associated with nonprofit organizations that focus on education issues or school leadership. </LI>
<LI>Seek other organizations that will benefit from your educational and leadership experiences. </LI>
<LI>Maintain certifications and state-mandated child abuse and criminal record clearances. </LI>
<LI>Offer to serve as a mentor to new administrators and teachers in the public and private domain. </LI></UL>
<P>For some, the images in the rear view mirror capture a life that has passed. For others, the images reflect accomplishments that can be infused into the next segment of lifes journey.
<BR><BR><BR>
<P><B>Robert Ruder</B> <I>(<a href="mailto: rruder@aol.com">rruder@aol.com</a>) is a recently retired principal.




